Smoke and heat removal device comprising a monitoring housing

The DEFC with a monitoring box addresses compliance and security issues by remotely monitoring shutter positions and movements, ensuring timely and secure operation during fires.

EP4610577A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-09-03ZOL
View PDF 5 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
EP2025159183
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-03-01
Filing Date
2025-02-20
Publication Date
2025-09-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing smoke and heat evacuation devices (DEFCs) face challenges in ensuring compliance with opening angle and time standards during fire events, and lack security features to prevent intrusion through their openings.

Method used

A DEFC equipped with a monitoring box that includes a microprocessor, time counter, movement and position detection means, and a telecommunications interface to remotely monitor and report the shutter's position and movement, ensuring compliance and security.

Benefits of technology

Facilitates remote compliance verification and enhances building security by providing real-time monitoring and reporting of shutter positions, detecting non-compliant or unauthorized openings, and preventing unauthorized access.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure IMGAF001_ABST
    Figure IMGAF001_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

Smoke and heat evacuation device comprising a fixed frame, a movable shutter, means for actuating said shutter, and a monitoring box (1) fixed to the movable shutter. This box comprises: means (5) for detecting any movement of the movable shutter and measuring the position of said shutter relative to the frame, a wireless telecommunications interface (6). The detection of a movement of the movable shutter results in the execution of a monitoring operation comprising the measurement of the position of the shutter at the start and end of movement, the calculation of an amplitude of the movement, the counting of the duration of the movement, and the sending of this data to a remote server. A status observation operation can also be executed, automatically or on request. The monitoring box makes it possible to verify the normative conformity of the evacuation device and to reinforce the security of the building in terms of intrusion.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical field

[0001] This application relates to a smoke and heat evacuation device.

[0002] In the event of a fire, the danger comes more from smoke and gas than from flames: risk of asphyxiation due to the rapid drop in oxygen concentration in the air, risk of burning lung tissue when inhaling smoke, toxicity of burnt products, inconvenience caused by smoke for emergency services, etc. To reduce these risks, the law requires certain buildings to be equipped with smoke extraction systems designed to replace the polluted air in the building with clean air from outside, either naturally or mechanically. State of the art

[0003] Natural smoke extraction is achieved by smoke vents (in the upper part) and natural air inlets (in the lower part) communicating either directly or by means of ducts with the outside and arranged in such a way as to ensure satisfactory sweeping of the volume concerned. It helps to limit the spread of fire and facilitates emergency intervention and the evacuation of occupants. In the case of mechanical smoke extraction, fans are also provided to force the circulation of air flows.

[0004] Smoke evacuation can be carried out through the roof (via a smoke extraction vent), or through the facade of the building (this is then referred to as a smoke extraction opening). The term "smoke and heat evacuation device", hereinafter referred to by the acronym DEFC, covers smoke extraction vents and openings.

[0005] A DEFC usually includes: a fixed frame, delimiting an opening hereinafter called a smoke extraction opening, a hinged shutter, mounted to pivot relative to the fixed frame between a closed position in which the shutter completely closes the opening and a safety position in which the opening is entirely or partially clear, means for actuating the shutter, which may be mechanical, pneumatic or electrical.

[0006] Some DEFCs also include a dry contact on the shutter, for example an electrical or electromagnetic dry contact, which can detect whether the shutter is open or closed.

[0007] Each evacuation device in a building is associated with a control system which includes in particular a control box to which the dry contact of the device's hinged shutter is electrically connected and which includes a light indicating whether the DEFC is closed or not.

[0008] This control system further comprises at least one manual trigger control for the shutter actuating means. It may also comprise an automatic trigger device by thermal fuse and / or a mechanical control by winch and / or a pneumatic control by percussion of a CO2 bottle. The control for opening the evacuation devices may be manual or automatic. In the case of an automatic control, it may be done by thermal fuse or under the impulse of an autonomous triggering fire detector or a centralized system, called a Centralized Fire Safety System, which receives and processes information collected by a plurality of automatic detectors and manual triggers.

[0009] A DEFC must meet standards which require in particular that: the shutter in the safety position, makes a given angle with the fixed frame; this angle is 110° for a smoke extraction vent (on the roof) and 60° for a smoke extraction opening (on the facade), when its opening is triggered, the shutter goes from its closed position to its safety position in less than a given time, the conformity of the evacuation device is checked at least once a year.

[0010] Compliance checks are carried out by duly authorized operators. To do this, the operator triggers the opening of the evacuation device by activating its manual control and visually checks that it opens correctly. In practice, the operator rarely measures the opening angle precisely, either due to lack of time, or the inability to reliably measure the opening angle, and / or because the device is difficult to access. Similarly, the opening time is only approximately controlled, or never controlled, or only partially controlled, particularly when the opening device is in the "dual-zone" format. The system installed in Bi-zone allows the simultaneous opening of several openings (up to fifteen openings or more); however, a human control operator cannot be in several locations at the same time to control the opening time of each of them.There are therefore clear and obvious risks that a conformity check will lead to the validation of a defective evacuation device.

[0011] Furthermore, by definition, a DEFC is a device that closes an opening in the structure of a building. This opening constitutes a flaw in the security of the building in terms of intrusion, in that it can allow the intrusion of a person when it is not closed by the evacuation device. To date, no device is provided to prevent the intrusion of a person through a DEFC, or to monitor that no intrusion takes place at this location. Statement of the invention

[0012] The invention aims to overcome at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a smoke and heat evacuation device whose "compliance in the event of fire" control is facilitated, regardless of its location in the building and therefore its accessibility, and which makes it possible to improve the security of the building in terms of intrusion.

[0013] To this end, the invention proposes a DEFC equipped with a monitoring box. The invention essentially relates to said monitoring box. However, for the sake of clarity and simplicity, this box is described installed on a smoke and heat evacuation device, which is therefore qualified as a DEFC according to the invention.

[0014] The DEFC according to the invention comprises: a fixed frame delimiting an evacuation opening, a movable shutter, mounted to move relative to the fixed frame between a closed position in which the shutter completely closes the evacuation opening and a safety position in which the evacuation opening is clear, means for actuating the shutter for the automatic opening of the movable shutter.

[0015] The DEFC according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a monitoring box fixed to the movable shutter, which monitoring box comprises: a printed circuit board incorporating a microprocessor, a time counter, a monitoring software module, a battery, means for detecting movement and measuring the position of the housing, for detecting any movement of the movable shutter and measuring the position of said movable shutter relative to the fixed frame, a telecommunications interface for sending data by the monitoring box to a remote server, the monitoring software module being configured to be automatically activated in the event of detection of movement of the movable shutter (and therefore of the monitoring box) by the means for detecting movement and measuring position, the activation of the monitoring software module in this case resulting in the execution of a monitoring operation which comprises a measurement of the position of the movable shutter at the start of movement and a measurement of the position of the movable shutter at the end of movement,a calculation of a movement amplitude on the basis of the previous position measurements, a count by the time counter of a duration of the movement, the establishment of a monitoring report comprising the previous data and the sending of this monitoring report to the remote server, the monitoring software module is also configured to be able to be activated, automatically on a regular basis and / or and upon receipt of a corresponding request sent remotely, in order to execute a status observation operation comprising a measurement of the position of the mobile shutter and the establishment and sending to the remote server of a status observation report comprising said measurement.

[0016] According to particular embodiments of the invention, the DEFC further has the following characteristics, implemented individually or in any technically possible and operational combination.

[0017] In some embodiments: the monitoring box further comprises an image sensor, any monitoring operation further comprises the capture of an image at the end of the movement of the mobile shutter and the addition of the captured image to the monitoring report sent to the remote server, and / or any status observation operation further comprises the capture of an image at the time of measuring the position of the mobile shutter and the addition of the captured image to the status observation report sent to the remote server, and / or the monitoring software module is configured to trigger the taking of a photo by the image sensor upon receipt of a corresponding command sent remotely.

[0018] In some embodiments, any monitoring report also includes a battery charge status, and / or any condition finding report also includes a battery charge status.

[0019] In some embodiments, the DEFC further comprises a closing sensor (for example of the diode or electromagnet type), configured to detect a closed state of the shutter if the movable shutter is in the closed position and an open state of the shutter if the movable shutter is not in the closed position. In this case, the monitoring software module is preferably configured to be automatically activated in order to execute a state observation operation in the event of detection of the open state by the closing sensor while no movement is detected by the movement detection and position measurement means.

[0020] In some embodiments, the monitoring software module is configured to be activated and to perform the status observation operation automatically every 7 hours or three times per day.

[0021] In some embodiments, the battery is sized to ensure a lifetime of the monitoring box of between 3 and 6 years based on usage comprising between 3 and 5 monitoring operations per year and between 2 and 4 status observation operations per day.

[0022] In some embodiments: the movable shutter is pivotally mounted around an axis parallel to the plane of the discharge opening, the movement detection and position measurement means comprise an electronic gyroscope or an electronic three-axis accelerometer.

[0023] Alternatively, the shutter is mounted to slide on rails parallel to the plane of the evacuation opening; a person skilled in the art is able to provide means for detecting movement and measuring position adapted to this type of mobile shutter, making it possible to determine, for example, an opening rate relative to a maximum or total opening of the sliding shutter. As a further alternative, the mobile shutter may be a motorized rolling shutter, which winds around an axis of rotation parallel to the plane of the evacuation opening, and the means for detecting movement and measuring position are, for example, configured to measure the number of winding turns of the shutter. These are only examples of embodiments, a person skilled in the art being able to provide means for detecting movement and measuring the position or amplitude of opening of the shutter adapted to the type of mobile shutter used.

[0024] In some embodiments, the monitoring box incorporates a geolocation sensor.

[0025] In some embodiments, the telecommunications interface comprises at least one of an antenna, a 3G or 4G or 5G transceiver and its management software module, a SIM card.

[0026] In some embodiments, the monitoring box comprises a second telecommunications interface of the WiFi and / or Bluetooth type for communication of the box with a smart portable device such as a smartphone or a tablet.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the monitoring box comprises a casing, preferably sealed, in which are housed the various constituent elements of said monitoring box necessary for its operation, and the evacuation device comprises a mounting support for mounting the monitoring box on the movable shutter, said mounting support comprising: an adhesive plate configured to be glued to an upright or crosspiece of the movable shutter, one or more brackets extending outward from the plate and configured to fit under an upper edge of the casing of the monitoring box, elastically deformable lugs formed outward from the plate and configured to fit by clipping into corresponding notches provided in the casing of the monitoring box.

[0028] The invention extends to a system for remote monitoring of smoke and heat evacuation devices, characterized in that said smoke and heat evacuation devices are each equipped with a monitoring box as described previously, and in that the monitoring system comprises: at least one remote server configured to receive the monitoring reports and the status report reports issued by the monitoring boxes of said smoke and heat evacuation devices, a human-machine interface, an analysis module hosted by said remote server for analyzing the monitoring reports and the status report reports received, which analysis module is configured to generate an alert to the human-machine interface in the event of: receipt of a status report indicating that the corresponding movable shutter is open (either because the angle measured by the movement detection and position measurement means is not equal to zero or because the "open state" is detected by the closing sensor); this scenario does not necessarily correspond to a break-in or an attempted break-in (a movement would have been detected in this case, which would have automatically triggered a monitoring operation);it simply reflects the fact that the shutter is open when it should not be, for example because it was previously opened for a compliance check or for another reason and the person forgot to close the shutter by resetting its operating means, receipt of a monitoring report when the operating means of the corresponding roller shutter have not been activated; this scenario indicates a break-in or attempted break-in, receipt of a monitoring report after activation of the operating means of the corresponding mobile shutter, monitoring report in which the calculated movement amplitude is less than a normative reference amplitude or the opening time counted is greater than a normative reference opening time;this scenario corresponds to a deliberately provoked surveillance operation (for the purpose of verifying the conformity of the DEFC or for another reason) and which reveals that the DEFC is not compliant; it also corresponds to the case where the activation of the actuation means was triggered by a fire detector following the occurrence of a fire and the movable shutter did not open correctly.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the DEFC remote monitoring system further comprises an application that can be loaded onto smart portable personal devices, such as tablets and / or smartphones, which application is configured to interact with said remote server, and the monitoring boxes each comprise a second telecommunications interface of the WiFi and / or Bluetooth type for communication between said monitoring box and said smart portable devices.

[0030] The invention extends to a method for verifying the conformity of a DEFC equipped with a monitoring box according to the invention, in which an operator causes the opening of the movable shutter of the DEFC by activating the means for actuating said movable shutter and the conformity of the DEFC is evaluated from the data contained in the monitoring report automatically issued by the monitoring software module of said box following this activation.

[0031] The invention also extends to a method for securing and remotely monitoring a building comprising DEFCs, in which each of said DEFCs is equipped with a monitoring box according to the invention and a risk of break-in is assessed on the basis of the monitoring reports and the condition report reports issued by these monitoring boxes. Brief description of the drawings

[0032] The invention, according to an exemplary embodiment, will be well understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, given for information purposes and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which: there figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a monitoring box according to the invention; the figure 2 represents the monitoring box of the figure 1 clipped onto a mounting bracket, seen in perspective from a first side of said housing; the figure 3 represents the monitoring box and the mounting bracket of the figure 2 , seen in perspective from the opposite side of said case; the figure 4 is a bottom view of the monitoring housing and mounting bracket Figures 2 and 3 ; there figure 3 is a perspective view of an example of a smoke extraction vent with a hinged shutter according to the invention, the figure 6is a perspective view of an example of a smoke extraction opening with a hinged shutter according to the invention. Detailed description

[0033] Identical elements shown in the above figures are identified by identical reference numerals.

[0034] There figure 1 shows a monitoring box 1 according to the invention intended to equip a DEFC according to the invention. This monitoring box is fixed to the movable shutter of the DEFC, as will be seen later.

[0035] The illustrated monitoring box 1 comprises a sealed casing 100 in which the various constituent elements of the monitoring box necessary for its operation are enclosed. This sealed casing 100 comprises a lower container 101 and an upper cover 102 which closes the container 101. The cover 102 is fixed to the container 101 by screws 105. A seal 107 is provided to ensure a sealed junction between the container and the cover.

[0036] The container receives a printed circuit board 2 on which are connected a microprocessor 3, a time counter, a GPS sensor (optional), one or more memories including a memory in which a monitoring software module is stored.

[0037] The monitoring box 1 further integrates a telecommunications interface 6 connected to the printed circuit board 2 for sending data (monitoring operation reports or status report) to a remote server in a cloud 400 (cf. Fig. 5). This telecommunications interface preferably comprises a SIM card and a 4G or 5G transceiver managed by a corresponding module, for example a 4G LTE-M / NB-loT module which has the advantage of being compatible with several operators, making it possible to choose the operator according to the availability of the network at the installation site. The 4G link is bidirectional but the module is preferably switched off most of the time to limit energy consumption. Information is received from the cloud 400 when the 4G LTE-M / NB-loT module is activated for sending data.

[0038] The printed circuit board 2 also advantageously integrates a low energy WiFi / Bluetooth 7 connection to enable the connection of the security box with a smartphone.

[0039] Microprocessor 3 can be a low-power microcontroller to manage standby modes. The WiFi / Bluetooth and 4G connection management modules are turned off to minimize consumption and turned on when it is necessary to send information to the Cloud or to a smartphone. If the WiFi / Bluetooth module has a standby consumption compatible with the need, the microprocessor can also be turned off. In this case, all the application code (in particular the monitoring software module described later) can be integrated into the WiFi / Bluetooth module.

[0040] The various physical elements provided on the printed circuit board 2 are neither described nor shown in detail in the figure, the person skilled in the art being able to design the board necessary to fulfill the functions of the monitoring software module described later.

[0041] The monitoring box 1 further comprises movement detection and position measurement means 5, capable of detecting any movement of the box and therefore any movement of the movable shutter on which the monitoring box is fixed. These means 5 may be an electronic gyroscope or an electronic three-axis accelerometer (shown very schematically) mounted on the printed circuit board 2, in particular in the case of a swinging movable shutter such as that illustrated in the Fig. 5 .

[0042] The printed circuit board 2 comprises a calculation module configured to calculate the position of the housing (i.e. the movable shutter) relative to a fixed frame of the DEFC, from the data measured by the movement detection and position measurement means 5, whether it is speed data (gyroscope) or force data (accelerometer).

[0043] The surveillance housing 1 also includes a camera or other image sensor 4 (optional), extended by a light guide 40, the assembly being fixed to the container 101 of the casing opposite a transparent window 43 provided in the bottom of said container, using an adhesive foam ring 42. The camera preferably includes a wide-angle lens or a hypergone lens (known by the Anglicism " fish eye ”) and a limited resolution, for example of the order of 2M pixels.

[0044] The monitoring box 1 further comprises a battery 8 connected to the printed circuit board by contacts 8a, 8b. The battery 8 is nested in a housing 103 formed in the cover 102 of the casing, which housing is closed by a hatch 104 allowing access to the battery to change it when necessary; this housing 103 is made watertight by the presence of a seal 106 between the cover 102 and the hatch 104. The inventors have determined that a battery of the ER26500 cell type makes it possible to guarantee a duration of 4 years of reasonable use of the box, a “reasonable” use meeting the following assumptions: five monitoring operations (opening of the DEFC, whatever the cause) are carried out on average per year; three status observation operations are carried out per day, with taking pictures (and sending to the cloud); the rest of the time the monitoring box is in a standby mode.

[0045] There Figure 5shows a smoke extraction vent, i.e. a DEFC adapted to be installed on the roof of a building (not shown).

[0046] This smoke extraction vent includes: a fixed frame 204; in the example illustrated, the frame 204 is a straight curb intended to be integrated into the covering of a roof (not shown); it could alternatively be an inclined curb or any other type of frame; this frame delimits an evacuation opening 203 opposite an opening made in the frame of the building, and through which fumes present in the building can be evacuated to the outside of the building, a movable shutter 200 mounted to pivot (swing) around an axis parallel to one of the sides of the fixed frame 204;said movable shutter 200 usually comprises a frame 201, which ensures the rigidity and mechanical strength of the shutter, and a lightweight panel 202, preferably transparent or translucent so that the outlet creates a light well in the building, actuating means for opening the movable shutter 200 automatically, these actuating means here comprising a pneumatic cylinder 207, one end of which is connected to the frame 204 and the other end of which is here connected to a crosspiece 206 of the movable shutter, a monitoring box 1 such as that described previously, fixed to the crosspiece 206 of the movable shutter; as a variant, the box could be fixed on one of the sides of the fixed frame 204 (except, of course, the side around which the shutter pivots). ;

[0047] The monitoring box 1 is fixed to the cross member 206 by means of a mounting bracket 10 which comprises (see Fig. 1 ) : a plate 11 which is glued to the crosspiece (or to another part of the shutter) using a double-sided adhesive strip 16, one or more brackets 12 formed projecting from the plate 11, two elastically deformable lugs 13.

[0048] Furthermore, the container 101 of the housing casing comprises a peripheral upper rim 14 forming a groove 15 open downwards into which the brackets 12 of the mounting support can be inserted. It further comprises, on each of its sides, two lower notches 17 adapted to receive by clipping the deformable lugs 13 of the mounting support (the term "clipping" meaning that the insertion of the lugs into the notches causes elastic deformation of said lugs which contributes to holding them in place in the notches). The insertion of the lugs 13 of the support into the housing casing is clearly visible on the Fig. 4 (bottom view).

[0049] It should be noted that the notches 17 do not pass through the wall thickness of the container 101 (they correspond to recesses in said wall), the housing according to the invention being designed to be watertight; it preferably meets the IPx4 watertightness criteria.

[0050] Two notches 17 being provided on each of the sides of the container 101, the monitoring box can be mounted on the mounting support by any of its sides, which offers several possibilities for positioning the box on the frame of the movable shutter and makes it possible to install the monitoring box according to the invention on any existing DEFC.

[0051] The mounting bracket 10 is glued to the crosspiece 206 so that the bottom of the housing is oriented in the opposite direction to the panel 202 of the movable shutter.

[0052] Alternatively, the DEFC does not have a mounting bracket and the monitoring box is directly glued to an element of the movable shutter of said DEFC.

[0053] Note that monitoring box 1 also includes (see Fig. 1 And 4 ) an installation button 18 for activating a procedure for initializing the box described later, as well as a light indicator 19 such as an RGB LED indicating whether the microprocessor and the various software modules of the monitoring box are activated (the diode is then programmed to emit, for example, a green light) or on standby (the diode emits, for example, an orange light). A third color, for example red, can be used to indicate that the battery 8 is almost empty.

[0054] There figure 6 illustrates a smoke extraction opening, i.e. a DEFC adapted to be installed on the facade of a building. This device includes: a fixed frame 304 delimiting an evacuation opening 303 for the evacuation of smoke and heat to the outside of the building, a movable shutter 300 pivotally mounted relative to the fixed frame 304, the movable shutter comprising a frame 301 which ensures its mechanical strength and a panel 302 (opaque or translucent); The lower side of the fixed frame 304 is connected to the lower side of the frame 301 of the movable shutter by hinges defining the pivot axis of the movable shutter relative to the fixed frame; automatic actuation means such as two pneumatic cylinders 307 connecting the lateral sides of the frame 301 of the movable shutter to the lateral sides of the fixed frame 304 a monitoring box 1 according to the invention. The monitoring box is here fixed on the upper side of the frame 301 of the movable shutter, opposite the pivot axis of the movable shutter.

[0055] The monitoring box 1 is identified by an identification reference which can be marked on the waterproof casing 100 of the box in the form of a bar code or a QR code.

[0056] The invention extends to a system for managing a plurality of smoke and heat evacuation devices, all equipped with a monitoring box 1 as previously described. This system comprises: the monitoring boxes 1 of said DEFCs, a web API 401 of the cloud 400, an application 403 that an operator can download onto a portable smart personal device 402 of the tablet or smartphone type.

[0057] The following description, which details the operation of the monitoring box during installation and in nominal operation, applies more particularly to a DEFC with a hinged shutter. Those skilled in the art will be able to transpose this description to the case of a DEFC with a sliding or rolling shutter (in this case the movement detection and position measurement means are adapted to measure, not an opening angle, but a distance or a winding rate, to obtain for example a width or an opening section).

[0058] When the operator installs a DEFC according to the invention on a building or when he equips an existing DEFC using a monitoring box according to the invention, he must first carry out an initialization procedure using the application on his smartphone. This procedure includes: scanning the QR code or barcode on the monitoring box to identify it, starting the box by inserting the battery or by removing a tab temporarily insulating one of the battery contacts, where appropriate, placing the box on the mounting bracket stuck to the mobile shutter of the DEFC, starting the installation by pressing the installation button 18 on the box, this start-up including waking up the microprocessor and the WiFi / Bluetooth module, recording in the application, with the identifier of the previously scanned box, geolocation data of the box; if the monitoring box includes a GPS sensor, this geolocation is measured by this sensor and transmitted via Bluetooth to the application on the smartphone; otherwise, the operator is asked to bring the smartphone close to the box and the location is measured by the smartphone's GPS sensor;an operation of calibrating the closing position and the opening angle of the movable shutter with measurement of the angle by the corresponding means 5, shooting by the camera 4 and transmission in Bluetooth to the application on the smartphone and to the cloud 400 via the 4G or 5G module.;

[0059] Once the box and the DEFC are installed with its monitoring box, the said box operates as indicated below.

[0060] As soon as a change in angle is detected by the gyroscope or accelerometer 5, a monitoring operation is triggered. This monitoring operation includes measuring the opening angle of the shutter at the start and end of the movement, calculating the amplitude of the movement, i.e. the difference between the angles at the end and at the start of the movement, calculating the duration of the movement, taking a photo at the end of the movement, then, for example 30 seconds after the start of the movement, sending this information to the cloud 400, in the form of a monitoring report which also includes the identification reference of the monitoring box concerned. Alternatively, the photo is not taken automatically at the end of the movement but is only taken upon receipt of a corresponding request sent via the web API 401 after receipt and analysis (by the analysis module) of the monitoring report, according to the data contained in this report.

[0061] Such a monitoring operation may be triggered deliberately by an operator of a certification body, for the purpose of verifying compliance with the DEFC standards. In this case, the operator commands the opening of the DEFC using the manual control of said evacuation device or via the building's Fire Safety Centralizer. The command to open the DEFC automatically triggers the monitoring operation since it causes a movement of the movable shutter which is detected by the gyroscope or accelerometer 5. The certification body can then retrieve the data received on the web API 401 by the administrator of the DEFC management system according to the invention.

[0062] The monitoring module also makes it possible to strengthen the building's security and detect an infraction committed on the DEFC. If an intruder wishing to enter the building forces the opening of the DEFC shutter, for example using a crowbar, again the movement of the shutter automatically triggers the execution of a monitoring operation, the report of which is transmitted to the cloud, saved on the remote server and then processed via the web API 401. The administrator of the management system according to the invention can then, if necessary, order a photo taken by the camera of the box to confirm the fraudulent opening of the DEFC and assess any damage suffered by the DEFC. If the infraction is confirmed by the photo, a security guard can be sent to the site. If no photo is received after a certain period of time, for example because the box has been destroyed or damaged, this confirms that an event that merits sending a security guard to the site has occurred.

[0063] In nominal operation, apart from any movement of the movable shutter, status observation operations are triggered upon receipt by the monitoring box 1 of a corresponding command issued automatically by the web API 401 or by the 4G module 6 or the microprocessor 3, for example every day at 7 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Apart from these pre-programmed operations, a status observation operation command can also be issued in response to a corresponding request entered punctually via the web API 401 or the smartphone application 403 by an operator of the DEFC management system according to the invention.

[0064] The status observation operations include waking up the microprocessor (if it is switched off and only the 4G module remains on standby between two operations), measuring the opening angle of the DEFC flap by the gyroscope or accelerometer 5 and sending a status observation report including the value of the angle thus measured, the value of the battery charge status and the identification reference of the monitoring box. Optionally, the status observation operation may include taking a photo and sending this photo to the cloud in the status observation report; alternatively, a photo capture command may be sent from the cloud 400 via the web API 401 upon receipt of the status observation report, for example in the case where the measured angle is not zero while the DEFC is supposed to be closed.This variant is preferred because it consumes less power, as the photo is not taken systematically, which increases the "lifespan" of the case (the time during which the case is fully operational with its original battery, not replaced or recharged).

[0065] Apart from monitoring and status reporting operations, the monitoring box is in a standby mode in which as many of its components as possible are switched off.

[0066] It should be noted that the monitoring box illustrated and previously described has limited dimensions and weight so as not to hinder the opening of the mobile shutter. Its length is around ten cm and its weight does not exceed 250g. It can therefore be installed on an existing DEFC without modifying its structure or its automatic actuation means (cylinders).

Claims

1. Smoke and heat evacuation device comprising: - a fixed frame (204; 304) delimiting an evacuation opening (203; 303), - a movable shutter (200; 300), mounted movable relative to the fixed frame between a closed position in which the shutter completely closes the evacuation opening and a safety position in which the evacuation opening is clear, - shutter actuating means (207; 307) for automatically opening the movable shutter, characterized in thatit further comprises a monitoring box (1) fixed on the movable shutter, which monitoring box comprises: - a printed circuit board (2) integrating a microprocessor (3), a time counter, a monitoring software module, - a battery (8), - means (5) for detecting movement and measuring the position of the box, for detecting any movement of the movable shutter and measuring the position of said movable shutter (200; 300) relative to the fixed frame (204; 304), - a telecommunications interface (6) for sending data by the monitoring box (1) to a remote server, - the monitoring software module being configured to, in the event of detection of movement of the movable shutter by the movement detection and position measurement means (5), --- be automatically activated,--- performing a monitoring operation which comprises a measurement of the position of the movable shutter at the start of movement and a measurement of the position of the movable shutter at the end of movement, a calculation of a movement amplitude on the basis of the previous position measurements, a countdown by the time counter of a duration of the movement, --- establishing a monitoring report comprising the previous data and sending this monitoring report to the remote server, - the monitoring software module also being configured to be able to be activated, automatically on a regular basis and / or and upon receipt of a corresponding request sent remotely, in order to perform a status observation operation comprising a measurement of the position of the movable shutter (200; 300) and the establishment and sending to the remote server of a status observation report comprising said measurement., 2. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe monitoring box (1) comprises an image sensor (4) and in that : - any monitoring operation includes the capture of an image at the end of the movement of the mobile shutter and the addition of the captured image to the monitoring report sent to the remote server, - and / or any status observation operation includes the capture of an image at the time of measuring the position of the mobile shutter and the addition of the captured image to the status observation report sent to the remote server, - and / or the monitoring software module is configured to trigger the taking of a photo by the image sensor upon receipt of a corresponding command sent remotely.

3. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that any monitoring report also includes a battery charge status (8), and / or any condition finding report also includes a battery charge status.

4. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a closing sensor, configured to detect a closed state of the shutter if the movable shutter is in the closed position and an open state of the shutter if the movable shutter is not in the closed position and in that the monitoring software module is configured to be automatically activated to perform a status observation operation in the event of detection of the open state by the closing sensor while no movement is detected by the movement detection and position measurement means.

5. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The monitoring software module is configured to be automatically activated to run the status report operation every 7 hours or three times a day.

6. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The battery is sized to guarantee a lifespan of the monitoring box of between 3 and 6 years based on use comprising between 3 and 5 monitoring operations per year and between 2 and 4 status observation operations per day.

7. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that : - the movable shutter (200; 300) is pivotally mounted around an axis parallel to the plane of the discharge opening (203; 303), - the movement detection and position measurement means (5) comprise an electronic gyroscope or an electronic three-axis accelerometer.

8. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the monitoring box (1) integrates a geolocation sensor.

9. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the telecommunications interface (6) comprises at least one of an antenna, a 3G or 4G or 5G transmitter / receiver and its management software module, a SIM card.

10. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the monitoring box (1) comprises a second telecommunications interface (7) of the WiFi and / or Bluetooth type for communication of the box with a smart portable device.

11. Smoke and heat evacuation device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in thatthe monitoring box (1) comprises a sealed casing (100, 101, 102), and the smoke and heat evacuation device comprises a mounting support (10) for mounting the monitoring box (1) on the movable shutter (200; 300), said mounting support (10) comprising an adhesive plate (11) configured to be glued to an upright or crosspiece (206) of the movable shutter, one or more brackets (12) extending projecting from the plate and configured to fit under an upper edge (14) of the sealed casing of the monitoring box, and elastically deformable lugs (13), formed projecting from the plate and configured to fit by clipping into corresponding notches (17) formed in the sealed casing (100) of the monitoring box.

12. Remote monitoring system for smoke and heat evacuation devices, characterized in thatit comprises: - said smoke and heat evacuation devices, which devices are in accordance with one of claims 1 to 11,: - at least one remote server configured to receive the monitoring reports and the status report reports issued by the monitoring boxes (1) of said smoke and heat evacuation devices, - a human-machine interface, - an analysis module on said remote server for analyzing the monitoring reports and the status report reports received, which analysis module is configured to generate an alert to the human-machine interface in the event of: --- receipt of a status report indicating that the corresponding mobile shutter is open, --- receipt of a monitoring report while the means for actuating the corresponding mobile shutter have not been activated, --- receipt of a monitoring report after activation of the means for actuating the corresponding mobile shutter,monitoring report in which the calculated movement amplitude is less than a normative reference amplitude or the counted opening time is greater than a normative reference opening time., 13. Remote monitoring system for smoke and heat evacuation devices according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises: - smart portable personal devices (402), - an application (403) that can be loaded onto said smart portable personal devices (402), which application is configured to interact with the remote server, and in that the monitoring boxes (1) of the smoke and heat evacuation devices each comprise a second telecommunications interface (7) of the WiFi and / or Bluetooth type for communication between said monitoring box (1) and said smart portable devices (402).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • System for monitoring equipment, associated devices and methods

    EP3979152A1

  • Device for ventilating a room, device for protecting a site and method for ventilating a site

    EP3087556B1

  • System for monitoring a smoke and / or heat extraction system

    EP3246504B1

  • Ventilation duct unit

    EP4078039B1

  • System and method for wireless environmental zone control

    US20190154298A1